Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality

by John Shelby Spong

Is celibacy the only moral alternative to marriage? Should the widowed be allowed to form intimate relationships without remarrying? Should the church receive homosexuals into its community and support committed gay and lesbian relationships? Should congregations publicly and liturgically witness and affirm divorces? Should the church's moral standards continue to be set by patriarchal males? Should women be consecrated bishops? Bishop Spong proposes a pastoral response based on scripture and history to the changing realities of the modern world. He calls for a moral vision to empower the church with inclusive teaching about equal, loving, nonexploitative relationships.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Gay, Sexuality

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

John Shelby Spong was the Episcopal bishop of Newark before his retirement in 2000. As a leading spokesperson for an open, scholarly, and progressive Christianity, Bishop Spong has taught at Harvard and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He has also lectured at universities, conference centers, and churches in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. His books include: A New Christianity for a New World, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Resurrection: Myth or Reality? Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and his autobiography, Here I Stand.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while dating a gay christian in the middle 1990s. (A mistake I will not repeat.) The Bishop earned my admiration for his completely commonsensical approach to interpreting his denomination's patchwork of responses to QUILTBAG persons in their congregations expressing their needs and wants for services provided to cishet people without question: marriage, baptism, the like.

It did not take.

Nonetheless, he tried, and was most eloquent and persuasive in his reasoning. The thunderation of the Haters was comforting to the small and evil, of course, and as religion would vanish if it were not in service to the lowest (term used advisedly) common (see previous) denominator, it prevailed. There has been, I'm told, progress made but I'm not involved in any way anymore so...whatever.

Bishop Spong has died. He was 90. I hope y'all's gawd receives him with joy and celebration and honors him for believing the best about others and doing his best to bring it forth in them as in himself.

[Dáithí's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bishop Spong once again makes an appeal to the intellect of the faithful and their leaders to act and not react with intelligence rather than fear. Sadly, it falls upon many a deaf ear and stone cold hearts.

Spong addresses many Biblical translation errors, mis-interpretation and proof texting used to discriminate and oppress women and those with alternative lifestyles. I actually loathe the term "alternative" as it implies that the dominant culture is correct and superior. The question "Why have people and sexuality evolved, but not religion?" is addressed. Why do so many church leaders still judge and damn folks through the lenses of centuries old?

Bishop Spong does a nice job at taking various parts of Judeo-Christian scripture that are used as a penal code by fundamentalists today and walks the reader through the times and history of each Bible verse. It is easy to see why folks misunderstand the Bible in the first place, but inexcusable that they do not modify their antiquated and hateful views. It is deplorable that we have so called Christians that bear posters and signs declaring "GOD HATES FAGS!!", "GOD HATES JEWS!", and other hate speech in today's society. Their ways and views are so antithetical to Jesus reported ways, that it is just mind numbing that they apply the term Christian to their very being.

The good bishop offers some sound wisdom regarding divorce as well. I love the liturgy he proposes to have a Divorce Ceremony for couples who have exhausted other means for the salvation of their marriage. (no pun intended) The liturgy and description of said ceremony is simply beautiful and heart wrenching. I will be adding this to the list of services that I offer as an Interfaith Pastor.

Spong takes the infamous three things to not discuss at a party (sex, politics, and religion) and meets them head-on with theological maturity and wisdom. There is a lot that people can learn from this book. We have come far, but not far enough in our treatment and respect for others. Hiding behind a cross and the anger of a god is no longer fair, nor acceptable behaviour.

The school of literalism needs to be closed once and for all. It has and continues to destroy families and society. Listen to the "All Loving Christians" around you as they discuss "those people" and judge and ostracize folks that don't think like they do. Didn't their Jesus associate with the marginalized of the world? WWJD? I think gag and shake his head in shame over his followers that hijacked his views and turned them into dogmatic hatred.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

To put a fine point on it: this book evidences Bishop John Shelby Spong at his best: being years ahead of his time - more than a full quarter-century in this case - in advocating for a spiritually evolved form of Christianity that is life-enhancing and -affirming for/to all.

In the spirit of full disclosure, this has to be the eighth or ninth book by Bishop Spong that I've read, so I'm both a fan and a follower. In my experience, his wisdom is deep both in terms of its profundity and its volume. This book is further evidence thereof.

A little bit of back story may be helpful: Ostensibly, this book is the Bishop's public response to a study on sexuality that was commissioned in his diocese (with his encouragement) back in the mid-1980s. Its purpose is to be thoughtful about how to evolve the Episcopal church's approach to sexuality generally and also specifically with respect to three groups of people: unmarried/pre-married (young) people, gay and lesbian (et. al.) people and post-married/divorced adults.

In some sense the study is a helpful pretext for the Bishop to suggest new approaches to some of the church's most alienating theological interpretations and the policies that resulted from them. Specifically, the Bishop considered the church's then-current approaches to pre-marital sex, homosexuality and post-marital sex anachronistic, ineffective and dehumanizing. Suffice it to say that, even as the Sexual Revolution of the 60s and 70s was cooling (in no small part due to the contagion of the AIDS epidemic of the 80s), very few people observed the celibacy that was the church's only prescription for the members of these three groups. In part, the Bishop felt compelled to address these issues because he has wanted to stem the ebb of the church's influence and clearly feels that the church should indeed play a role in helping people to address so cardinal a realm of their being/spiritual lives as their sexuality.

And he does a nice job of setting the context, explaining why and how the world has changed and, therefore, why and how the church's theology/policy/teaching has to evolve as well. In sum, he believes that an active sexual relationship can indeed be holy outside of marriage and elucidates some common sense and accessibly spiritual guidelines for this to be the case.

Which all sounds sort of "Duh!" to us now ... except that this book was published in 1988, over 25 years ago, when such humane and spirit-affirming wisdom was truly cutting edge (to put it nicely). Again, this book evidences the Bishop at his best: being years ahead of his time - more than a full quarter-century in this case - in advocating for a spiritually evolved form of Christianity that is life-enhancing and -affirming for/to all.

What's perhaps a touch sad - and revealing of us - is that the book also exposes the Bishop's naivete: one of his predictions at the time was that it would take a decade or so for his forward thinking to be widely accepted. As we know, we're just now beginning to grapple with these issues both spiritually and politically. The fact that gay marriage is not universally supported in either our churches or our society (and the laws that bind it) attests to just how revolutionary and important this work/book/evolved spirituality was and is....

So, it's truly groundbreaking spiritual work and worth a thoughtful and considered (as well as reverent) read. It's not perfect - there are a few patches in which the context is unnecessarily dense and/or the discussion is dated/clearly time-bound - but it's inspiring: to think that Bishop Spong was challenging us and the church to be so universally loving and inclusive over a quarter-century ago is both impressive and motivating. He was one of several voices crying out in the wilderness. It's great to see that he and his fellow visionaries have been proven correct and that we are beginning to celebrate our shared humanity in all of its forms, with or without the institutional church's blessing. That John Shelby Spong has goaded us and our churches to be more humane in our spirituality and our (practice of) religion is indeed his greatest legacy. Living in Sin will remind you of just how visionary he has been and is....

[Abi Olvera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being on the people that the church typically loses (unmarried, college-educated, 20s), this book reignited my interest in the Church. I found it hard to believe that the creator of physics, of science, of biology, of all these amazing things would really tell me that as a woman, I need to find some man to serve, that I should keep quiet in church, that if we women want to get married later in life after our career, we should really be celibate. We should hate our homosexual friends' beautiful relationships. I question everything I read, and want to know the background and context of everything; why should the Bible be excluded? Spong informs the reader of how the Bible itself has been accepted in different ways by the Gentiles who could not be Christians according to the Jewish law. Inclusivity had to begin once the Bible became more universal. A literal reading of the Bible is impossible, because of its contradictions, but this doesn't take away from the Bible. The Word of God is resolute in wanting to us love each other, accept each other, etc.

I truly believe that if we don't begin at least to lean toward the way Spong allows for us to interpret the Bible. With the same academic detail with which we study other literature, the Bible can truly persevere for ages. We can discard the gender biases that made women property, that asks us to be celibate for decades, that asks us to stay in unhappy marriages. Does that really sound in line with a God who says throughout the Bible we should seek fuller lives? Marriage wasn't the same when lifespans were around 40 years. Lifespans have doubled, sexuality no longer means procreation. If we keep attempting to indoctrinate future generations with these ideas which are strange now to our new reality, we will lose every person of my demographic. Just like the adhering to the Jewish rule had to be expanded to include the reality of a universal religion, we need to also realize the life and reality can still be moral through the interpretation of the Word of God, not the word of man.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though many Evangelicals would probably view many of his thoughts as heretical, and though I did not find myself agreeing with all (or even most) of his ideas....I feel that if the Church would embrace the questions he raises with as much compassion as he exhibits, we would impact so many more people in a positive way for Christ. I do feel that he falls a bit too far into postmodern thinking (we all have our own measure of truth or what is holy), yet raises important debate about how sexuality affects society, in more ways than just homosexuality. He addresses divorce, single Chrisitans, pre-marital sex, the Biblical foundation of gender and other avenues of sexuality. Through it all, he urges the church to find a more open stance to reach people at large without arrogance and false pride. Though I don't think his questions have easy or clear 'one size fits all' answers, if more of us would be willing to discuss the subjects he raises with prayer, and with love.....the church and society would be better off.

[Tarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are in any way interested in the ever-crushing Christian-religious debate surrounding homosexuality, this book is really phenomenal. Especially considering how early it is in this debate of the broader Church (mid-80s I think). Spong's challenge to THE Church about the debate on sexuality is refreshing even 25 years into this soul-numbing argument. Spong is thoughtful and even-handed, though a few chapters drag on, and he is above all compassionate. If only the ELCA had read this 25 years ago, we could all have been saved the heartache of a legacy of exclusivity.

[Joe Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a pattern that by now is becoming typical, if not expected, with Spong, he organizes the book in three parts: Part I The Revolution, Part II The Bible, Part III Some New Proposals. As an appendix, he includes the Report of the [Episcopal] Task Force on Changing Sexuality and Family Life (1986). There is a 4-page bibliography and a 4-page index. Notes are included at the end of each chapter.

Chapter 1 is entitled "Setting the Stage." I quote the opening lines.

"Some people will regard this book as a book about sex. I regard it as a book about prejudice. For centuries sexual attitudes, sexual taboos, and sexual practices have been used by dominant groups in society to keep others subordinate. Those who possess power define those who are powerless and then impose their own definition on the ones defined. The guiding principle is to ensure the comfort, the convenience, the happiness, and the well-being of the dominant ones.

"Behind prejudice there is also fear. We reject that which we cannot manage. We condemn what we do not understand. We set up a means of control to render powerless those dynamic realities we know to be powerful. No aspect of our humanity is invested with more anxieties, yearning, emotions, an d needs than is our sexual nature. So, sex is a major arena in which the prejudice of human beings finds expression.

"This accounts for the anger and even the violence that erupts when sexual control mechanisms are publicly challenged." p.23

All that being said, he pretty well covers the waterfront of sexuality inside and outside of one-man-one-woman marriage...between single persons before marriage or after marriage and divorce or being widowed...homosexuality, ordination and leadership of women, etc. After essentially a lifetime of experiencing the church handling sexuality in a very poor and inadequate way, I find it very refreshing and encouraging to find a churchman who engages the realities all around us and provides some leadership into the future.

When I read of the current pope's recent questionaire of his bishops on a spate of social issues generally dealing with sexual mores and attitudes, I reflected on the fact that Spong wrote this book addressing these same issues in 1988, 25 years ago. Is he intelligent and knowledgeable? Is he insightful, as in prophetically so? Is he intellectually honest? Is he apparently fearlessly courageous? Is he helpful? Of course...yes...yes...yes...yes, and yes. Do I need to say yes again? Yes.

[Becky Carleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a couple of decades ago, so I'm going off of memory here. Bishop Spong is one of the first religious leaders I ever heard speak of homosexuality without judgment. At the time I read this book I was in my early twenties in a committed lesbian relationship. When people would ask me what my religious beliefs were, I'd cross my fingers and say, "Jesus and I are like that. But organized religion bugs me." Frankly, I felt unwelcome in most churches. I grew up listening to people talk about how the Bible says homosexuality is a sin. My friends in high school and I were bullied and threatened with death by our peers for being gay or bi or questioning. All these years later, it's still a crazy harsh world we live in, but it's getting better for kids who are gay or bi or questioning. I can't wait to re-read this book and see how I feel about it today. Highly recommended to open minds.

[Kimberly Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spong helps readers to understand some of the notions of our culture in regard to sexuality & religion, & the inability to reconcile the two. Too many people still see sexuality as something that lives on the "dirty" side of life's fence. Much of that misguided thinking stems from religious trickle-down theory. Whether one has ever been part of a religious tradition or had any religious training at all doesn't matter. No one in modern culture escapes the beliefs that are handed down from preceding generations. Though one may think he's immune, there are cultural stigmas & prejudices, which don't make much sense, but are nevertheless still prevalent in modern society & which have their roots in religion.

John Shelby Spong is provocative & powerful in his approach to the holiness of life. That is how holiness should be!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I wish there was a way to make this mandatory reading for everyone who claims to be a Christian. Bishop Spong shakes the bones of every Christian tradition relating to women, sex, sexuality and gender and asks us to wake-up and rethink these traditions on the basis of the world we NOW live it. Some of what is here will be shocking. BUT, if you follow his research and logic you will likely be persuaded.

In his epilogue Spong states, “I can take consolation from the fact that people like me, who love the church and yet dare to question the church’s conventional wisdom can, over a long enough period of time, make a vital difference.”

Written in 1988, some of what he proposed has already begun to take effect. Much of it is still waiting to be implemented.

[Izzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another ace in the hole for Spong. Oh how I am hoping the Christian church will wake soon and once and for all begin practicing acceptance and inclusiveness instead of the opposite. Spong faces touchy subjects in this book and offers readers another perspective. A more realistic view of what is really going on in this world today with it's problems. Christians need a fresh approach for the issues of modern day, I believed that what Spong shares in this book does just that. Five big fatty stars means that this one is a GOOD read!

[Matthew Klippenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Rev. Spong.

The most memorable thing I learned in the book was that in 17th-century England (and presumably elsewhere in Europe for centuries prior) most baptismal records showed peasants' babies having common-law parents. (What peasants, after all, could afford a wedding ceremony in a church which mainly tended to the affairs of the nobility?)

Which really adds a lot of context to modern-era consternation about the prevalence of common-law couples...

[Yvonne Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating evaluation of tabou subjects in the Christian church. The book is outstanding because it is written by an Episcopalian Bishop, John Spong, lending a lot of credibility to the subject. Additionally, Spong, defends his stances with Biblical references.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it wasn't Rev Spong's intention, but this is the book that turned me into an atheist. Spong is one of those rare people who can write an educational book about the Bible and actually make it readable

[Sean Maher]

An excellent and well thought book, a call to liberalize the modern church and 'get with the times'. I rather enjoyed his chapter on the Bible as being contradictory (which it is) and that it shouldn't be taken literally (which it shouldn't).

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CONTROVERSIAL BISHOP LOOKS AT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

John Shelby Spong (born 1931) is a retired Episcopal bishop, formerly of Newark; he has written many other books, such as 'Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture,' 'Born of a Woman: A Bishop Rethinks the Virgin Birth and the Treatment of Women by a Male-Dominated Church,' 'This Hebrew Lord,' 'Resurrection: Myth or Reality?', etc.

He begins this 1988 book by stating that he regards it as "a book about prejudice," where taboos "have been used by dominant groups in society to keep others subordinate... The guiding principle is to ensure the comfort, the convenience, the happiness, and the well-being of the dominant ones." (Pg. 23)

He asserts that the God of traditional Western religious thought has been "a male deity designed to affirm the very assumptions that are destined to pass away" (pg. 43), and "the Bible is biased against women." (Pg. 117) He argues strongly against "selective literalism" in our use of the Bible, stating that it is "a very weak basis upon which to argue for the condemnation of anything." (Pg. 142)

He suggests that the church must set about the task of rethinking the ethics of human sexuality (Pg. 86), and concludes that a same-sex orientation is "a minority but perfectly natural characteristic on the human spectrum." (Pg. 198)

He observes toward the end of the book that "People do change," and that "I am a living example of these facts. Ten years ago I would have been shocked and aghast at the things I am writing at this moment. Five years ago I still had to be pushed to take an inclusive position." (Pg. 204)

While some dismiss Spong as the "Bishop James Pike of the '80s and '90s," he is much more detailed exegetically and rationally in his positions than Pike ever was (e.g., If This is Heresy), and he is always worth reading---whether you agree with every statement he makes, or not.

[Steve Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, written in 1988, was groundbreaking and largely relevant today.

I don’t always agree with his Biblical exegesis, but he’s spot on with nailing the harm inflicted by retrograde religious attitudes...and his observations and solutions have no doubt been embraced by more progressive churches.

Sponge is an excellent writer.

[Kristy]

You never read a passage of a book without context (well, you shouldn’t)! Why should the Bible be any different?

Spong calls for the church to rethink its sexuality ethics and warns that if the church refuses, the institution will largely become obsolete in the modern world - something, if we’re honest, that has already been underway for quite some time.

As a female Christian raised by a liberal family, I have always identified with the absolute love Christ heralds in the Bible, but certain passages in Scripture have granted on my ears for as long as I can remember. An uncle lent me Living in Sin because I expressed me hurt and confusion on why a people of a religion that professes such love for all neighbors can show and oft emulate violently their deep fear of the gay community. An aside: When accused of being homophobic, an acquaintance of mine promptly replied, ‘I’m no homophobe. I’d have to be afraid of gays to be homophobic.’ You may not be actively afraid of catching the gene (which does not exist, though that it can be imprinted on naïve minds continues to be a fear. Just look at many adoption policies that exclude stable homes occupied by gay couples), but as Spong wrote

The patriarchal mentality is almost inevitably homophonic, for gay men threaten the prevailing definitions of maleness, and lesbian women refuse to flatter dominant males by conveying to them any sense of needing that which they are.

Masculine toxicity, anyone? People oft think that what is not normal behavior for them is perverted, which is undoubtedly ignorant. While inconclusive, Spong also sheds light on evidence that certain biochemical events during prenatal life may determine adult-sexual orientation, and once set, is irreversible.

Scripture is riddled with contradictions, because men (and women) are inexact in their prejudices, fickle but dangerous notions. The Bible did not fall from heaven intact, though too many people treat it as such. It was written by men (not women). To those who question why a just God would let people write a book in his name and incorporate all their petty prejudices: Free will. Adam and Eve and the rest of these learn(ed) this time and again the hard way. There’d be no need for faith or grace if God marionetted our way to divine truth. So he sent his Son to die for a people who had no love or much appreciation for him. Christ’s crime? He dared to be himself, wrote Spong.

(Matt. 11:28) Come to me, all, said Christ, not, come to me, those chosen by the best of you. (1 Cor. 15:22) In Christ shall all be made alive, reads Scripture, not, all those accepted by the church. For if human history has taught us anything, Christians have been the bringers of pain and prejudice for a large chunk of it. But when challenged, passages endorsing slavery, veiling women, capital punishment for cursing, among a host of others, have fallen by the wayside in Western civilization. Why should prejudice against gays (and anti-feminine rhetoric) be any different?

He addresses the timeline of the Torah and Hebrew Scriptures and provided insight as to how the prejudices of the writers’ communities affected their writing and subsequently benefited said communities. To provide an aside/context: The Bible was written when the world was still thought to be flat and women were not citizens by tribal law.

Spong tackles the passages that purportedly damn homosexuality, such as those that compose the tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, Deut. 23:17, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, and everyone’s personal favorite to quote: Rom 1:26-7 (good ol’ Paul). He sheds light on the context in which they were written, faulty translations, and malformed misconceptions of homosexuality (it’s not clear at this time if sexual relations among the same sex was known to be anything other than abuse in biblical times; Paul refers to sex with the same gender as a punishment enacted by God. It’s also important to note that the ultimate advocate of love, Jesus Christ, doesn’t mention homosexuality once in the Gospels.) Spong advocates people search for the living Word as opposed to outdated law.

At times the insight is dated (it is print) and dense, if not repetitive. But in all, Spong delivers some informative food for thought society is already chewing on. If the church would dare to step up and become a driving force in changing sexuality ethics (and drop its wishy-washy literal interpretations of Scripture), we’d get there all the quicker, and the church, to so many exiled, may once again become an institution of sanctuary and growth in love for Christ. This book made me wonder where Mr. Spong was and his first thoughts the day the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage. It was a happy day (an understatement) a long time coming. But I don’t deny my disappointment that a primary reason the vote took so long and the resistance gay couples have experienced since are in large part thanks to the church and its malformed conceptions of a sadistic god heaped onto His children who, instead, deserve to know His love.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good history here about the failure of the church at large to fulfill it's primary command to love. Reasons and unfortunate repercussions.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spong is way ahead of his time and uses sociological and historical context for interpretations of the Bible.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally. Some truth that I can relate to.

[J.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that I was very much looking forward to. Being on the heels of reading his autobiography, I anticipated some orthodoxy from him which was not found in Here I Stand(although understandable as this was not the place for that). Unfortunately, what I found was a book that had some good general arguments, but did not have much support to them. I was eagerly hoping that this book would open my eyes farther open to a theology which was open while still having a strong foundation. This seemed to be a mile wide and an inch deep however. Spong failed to write a book that was accessible for anyone but his normal followers and as such I would estimate did not convince many to embrace a loving and open response to the different items of sexuality discussed here. With that said, there were still good points made and I am starting to understand better from a theological perspective the inclusivity Jesus offered/offers(my heart's understanding of this was much more progressive in this manner than my head).

[daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I'm not exactly sure if this is the right version - when I read it, it didn't have a "study guide" - but I couldn't find a better ISBN)

MAJOR DISCLAIMER - Don't read it until you're ready to read it. It's not going to change your mind about sexual ethics unless you want it to.

I initially bought this book (several years ago, used, at a library book sale) to make fun of it. I added it to my collection of "heresy books", along with kooky word-faith stuff and books with funny titles (e.g. "One Woman at a Time") - I had no intention of reading any of these.

I read it when I was ready. It's pretty good - he provides context and vision for a newer, more nuanced approach to sexuality (and tangentially, to women in Church leadership).

His is a voice from an interesting perspective, as he's not personally vested in the "issue", as a straight, married, monogamous Church leader.

It's worth a look.

[Christopher Selmek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bishop Spong has a lot of experience dealing with issues of human sexuality as they relate to the church. His main argument is that since people are going to engage in pre-marital sex, homosexual relations, divorce and re-marriage anyway, the church may as well support it. While churches need not condemn certain members of their congregation, they need to do a better job helping people to understand why pre-marital sex and homosexual relationships are unhealthy and do a better job coaching them to a less harmful approach. Christianity does not need to adjust its morals to fit those of modern times. In fact, it is modern times that need a better example of right living in modern Christianity.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, not a genre for my own personal reading..this too was a requirement for a God & Human Sexuality course. I found the author's writing personable, and his ideas absolutely fascinating. Obviously an educated and spiritual man, I appreciated his up front discussion about sexuality and the current challenges this presents within the church. I wish all clergy had this open mindset, and forward thinking with regard to our evolving culture.

[cubbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

really readable, interesting and fun... but my goodness, carrying a book with this cover around was pretty rough. it's so 1980s dramatic and i was always afraid people would miss the question mark. because i didn't want to look mean, and i think the cover has a lot of potential for mean. like other people have said, i think it's particularly amazing that this book was written when it was.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

ah... my first salute to heathons [mom, i'm kidding! me and jesus:we're like peas and carrots! honest!].
a good take on those who need help wrapping thier arms around understanding that thier sunday school teachers may not have got everything exactly right...

[JoVanna]

Not actually referring to the study guide, but I can't find the book itself listed.

[BooksInc Inc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to go listen to Bishop Spong give a talk to the Metropolitan Community Church on August 5th, 2007. I found, much to my delight, that Spong's objections to

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book on religous views and misconceptions on human sexuality